From Robert Longley,
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The Department of Health and Human Services understands the plight of the millions of Americans without health insurance and is taking action to help them, according to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson.

"This Administration and HHS understand that the needs of those who lack insurance or have limited coverage are a long-standing challenge to this nation," stated Thompson in a press release. "That's why we have put forth an aggressive agenda to address this issue from many fronts so we can help as many Americans as possible, as quickly as possible."

Sec. Thompson went on to list steps his agency had taken to assist persons in need, including ongoing expansion of community health centers, strengthening of the Medicaid and SCHIP (health insurance for uninsured children) programs and creation of innovative insurance options. "At HHS, we will continue to show leadership by developing innovative approaches to expand Americans' access to health care," he said.

HHS Accomplishments

Expanding health centers. Since 2001, access has been extended to 2.2 million additional Americans -- part of the President's five-year plan to fund 1,200 new and expanded sites serving 16 million Americans. These health centers deliver preventive and primary care to patients regardless of their ability to pay.

Strengthening Medicaid and SCHIP. HHS helped states develop new approaches to expanding coverage and avoiding reductions in their Medicaid and SCHIP programs. HHS-approved waivers and state plan amendments have expanded eligibility to more than 2.2 million people and improved benefits for more than 7 million people since 2001.

Creating new health savings accounts. Through the new Medicare law, the Administration led efforts to enact new Health Savings Accounts that offer flexible, affordable insurance options for small businesses and individuals.

Encouraging qualified high-risk insurance pools. In 2003, HHS awarded nearly $32 million in grants to help 18 states create or run qualified high-risk pools, which provide health coverage to people generally too sick to be able to afford conventional insurance.

Recruiting clinicians in underserved rural and urban areas. To meet the demands for physicians and other clinicians in health centers and other underserved areas, HHS also continues to expand the National Health Service Corps. In 2003, HHS supported almost 3,200 doctors, dentists and other clinicians in the field.

Fulfilling the promise of safe and affordable drugs. FDA is introducing new regulatory processes to dramatically reduce the time and cost of generic drug approvals. By getting low-cost generic alternatives to consumers more quickly, this initiative is estimated to save Americans as much as $35 billion over the next 10 years.

Providing a helping hand through tax credits. The President's FY 2003 budget proposed $89 billion over ten years for new health tax credits to make private health insurance more affordable for Americans who do not have employer-provided insurance or public insurance. In addition, the President signed the Health Coverage Tax Credit, which helps those eligible to receive Trade Adjustment Assistance or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation obtain a tax credit covering 65% of qualified health insurance premiums.

[Source: HHS press release - Jan. 14, 2004]